The inaugural meeting of the Northern Lower Regional Deer Advisory Team (NLRDAT) is set for Saturday, Feb. 11. The meeting will be held at the Ramada Inn Conference Center, 2650 I-75 Business Loop, Grayling, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

With the approval of the Michigan Deer Management Plan on May 6, 2010, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) committed to establishing Regional Deer Advisory Teams (RDAT) for each Michigan region.  Each RDAT corresponds to the boundaries of the DNR Hunting and Trapping Zones – Zone 1 being the Upper Peninsula, Zone 2 the Northern Lower Peninsula, and Zone 3 theSouthern Lower Peninsula.

The NLRDAT will serve as an advisory team to the DNR on deer management in the Northern Lower Peninsula.  The goal of the team is to serve as a conduit between the public and the DNR to better understand the major concerns surrounding white-tailed deer.

“This is a great opportunity to engage members of the public about deer-related issues,” said DNR Deer Biologist Ashley Hippler. “We are looking forward to working closely with this group.”

The NLRDAT is made up entirely of volunteers who have been appointed by the Natural Resources Commission and the DNR, for either two or three years; team members will attend local open houses, which will be public meetings for sharing information and gathering public input in their region.

“The Regional Deer Advisory Teams are a critical connection between the public and the DNR,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. “Understanding the public’s views on deer management is the only way we can have successful deer management in Michigan.”

Members of the public are welcome to attend as observers, although the meeting is not open for public comment.  If time permits, the NLRDAT will take questions and comments from the public.

If you have topics you would like the NLRDAT to discuss, email Ashley Hippler at hipplera@michigan.gov, or share your comments at http://deer.fw.msu.edu/involved/nlteam.php

Do you have questions about birds, snakes and alligators? Hunting and fishing? What about fish, mussels, snails and crayfish? Join the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) for an hour-long web chat on Friday, February 17, 2012, at noon to have those questions answered. To join the chat visit www.outdooralabama.com/chat, between noon and 1 p.m. on February 17.

During “Conservation Q&A” WFF specialists in the fields of wildlife, fisheries, and conservation enforcement will answer your wildlife, hunting, and fishing related questions live. As many questions as possible will be answered during the hour. However, due to time constraints all questions may not be answered. The chat will be archived on the website so it can be read in its entirety following the event.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions:  Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.  To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Polartec, the leading manufacturer of performance fabrics, announces the Outdoor Action Program at Princeton University as the winner of its second annual Polartec Made Possible College Challenge. The contest aimed at collegiate outdoor programs was launched in early December and will award a $10,000 grant and Polartec apparel to the Outdoor Action Program.

After accepting video submissions from collegiate outdoor clubs around the country telling Polartec what they would do with $10,000, the finalists were narrowed down to four on December 5, and the results were then left up to the public. After eight weeks, 31,000 video views, and over 27,000 votes, the contest came down to the wire with the Outdoor Action Program officially winning the contest by just 166 votes.

“We are all thrilled to hear that Princeton won,” says Outdoor Action Program Director, Rick Curtis. “We are really excited about the opportunities that this funding will open up for the Outdoor Action Program to offer more programming during the academic year.”

Backbone Media, Polartec’s media agency, created the Final Four-style Facebook application for this contest, with help from developers at Friend2Friend. The app resulted in over 5,000 installations, several thousand new fans, and hundreds of comments on Polartec’s fanpage, as students rallied their friends and families to support their alma mater.

“We were inspired by the submissions we received for this contest, because each club that entered is fostering the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts,” states Polartec North American Marketing Manager, Allon Cohne. “Every one of our finalists came up with an inspiring idea that we would have been proud to sponsor. The Outdoor Action Program at Princeton absolutely deserves this donation due to their incredible submission idea and for the hard work that they put into rounding up almost 10,000 votes. We are thrilled to watch their program grow as a result of this grant and all of the buzz they generated on campus.”

For more information on the Made Possible Challenge, or Polartec’s other social media initiatives, go to www.Facebook.com/Polartec.

La Sportiva North America, makers of the world’s finest mountain products, announces that the first race of the 2012 La Sportiva Mountain Cup is the Uwharrie Mountain Run, in Ophir, NC. The first race of the 10-race national series is set for tomorrow, February 4th, 2012.

“2012 is a special year for the La Sportiva Mountain Cup,” says Kevin Fonger, La Sportiva’s marketing manager. “It’s the fifth anniversary of the series and we are pleased to once again have GORE-TEX participate as presenting sponsor. Competitors of all levels should be prepared for tough but exciting races in beautiful locations across the country. Starting with this weekend’s race in Ophir, this year will be a great one.”

The La Sportiva Mountain Cup brings European-style mountain racing to America, featuring 10 trail races at select destinations around the country and $25,000 in prize money. The series is open to anyone who’d like to participate in any Mountain Cup event; participants may enter as few or as many events as they want. Overall scoring will be tabulated after each race and final results will be based on the participant’s best five events. Each event will award points to the top 10 racers and every race will count equally – there are no premium points for longer distances. At the end of the season, the five fastest and most consistent male and female racers will receive a cash prize for their Mountain Cup performance.

In 2011, Megan Kimmel was crowned the women’s overall champion for the third straight year and the men’s overall winner, Jared Scott, came on strong at the end by finishing 1st at the last three races.

The Series will recognize an athlete outside the realm of the top competitors by presenting the Standout Award to a participant who displays some kind of notable achievement regarding the race. Recipients of the Standout Award will receive a pair of La Sportiva Mountain Running shoes and an impressive prize package from the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team’s associate sponsors.

In an effort to raise awareness and support for local organizations focused on the trail running community, 100 limited-edition Mountain Cup travel coffee mugs will be sold at the La Sportiva booth. Proceeds will be donated to a local non-profit organization agreed upon by La Sportiva and the race director.

The 2012 La Sportiva Mountain Cup venues will include

• 2/4/12 • Uwharrie Mountain Run (20M) • Ophir, NC (http://www.raceuwharrie.com/)
• 2/18/12 • Moab’s Red Hot 33K (33K) • Moab, UT (http://grassrootsevents.net/home/moabs-red-hot-55k-33k/)
• 2/26/12 • Ugly Mudder 7Mi Trail Run (7mi) • Reading, PA (http://www.pretzelcitysports.com/uglymudder.html)
• 3/3/12 • Hillbilly Half Marathon (13.1M) • Olympia, WA (http://www.guerillarunning.com/Mountain_Marathon.html)
• 4/7/12 • Hell’s Hills (25K) • Smithville, TX (http://www.tejastrails.com/HellsHills.html)
• 5/12/12 • Don’t Fence Me In Trail Run (30K) • Helena, MT (http://www.pricklypearlt.org/eventscalendar/dfmi_index.htm)
• 5/19/12 • Jemez Half Marathon (13.1M) • Los Alamos, NM (http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/JemezMt.htm)
• 6/2/12 • Rothrock Challenge (30K) • State College, PA (http://www.rothrockchallenge.com/4601.html)
• 7/15/12 • Barr Trail Mountain Race (12.5M) • Pikes Peak, CO (http://www.runpikespeak.com/)
• 8/4/12 • Jupiter Peak Steeplechase (16K) • Park City, UT (http://www.mountaintrails.org)

People have the opportunity to exchange ideas and engage in open conversation with staff from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources during a series of town hall meetings being held across the state.

The nine town hall meetings begin Feb. 13 in Lexington and conclude with the final session April 2 in Morehead. Individual meetings are subject to rescheduling due to bad weather.

The meetings encompass Kentucky Fish and Wildlifes goal of striving toward a more informed and involved public. Commissioner Jon Gassett and managers of the departments various programs will be on hand to answer questions, provide updates and discuss issues of interest to hunters, anglers, trappers, boaters and other wildlife/outdoor enthusiasts. The commission member representing the district will also attend the meeting.

All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. local time. Meetings, dates, locations and counties in each district include:

• Lexington, 6th Wildlife District, Monday, Feb. 13. Meeting to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, North Exhibit Hall, Iron Works Road. Use the main entrance. This district includes Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Jessamine, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Powell, Rockcastle, Scott and Woodford counties.
• Louisville, 3rd Wildlife District, Wednesday, Feb. 15. Meeting to be held at the E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park Community Center, 2201 Lakeland Road. This district includes Breckinridge, Bullitt, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Shelby and Spencer counties.
• Burlington, 5th Wildlife District, Thursday, Feb. 16. Meeting to be held in Britt Hall, Immaculate Heart of Mary, 5876 Veterans Way. This district includes Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson and Trimble counties.
• LeBurn, 7th Wildlife District, Wednesday, March 21. Meeting to be held at Knott County Sportsplex, 450 Kenny Champion Loop. This district includes Breathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Harlan, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry and Pike counties.
• Somerset, 9th Wildlife District, Thursday, March 22. Meeting to be held at The Center for Rural Development, 2292 South U.S. 27. This district includes Bell, Clay, Clinton, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne and Whitley counties.
• Gilbertsville, 1st Wildlife District, Monday, March 26. Meeting to be held at the Kentucky Dam Village Convention Center, 113 Administration Drive. This district includes Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall and Trigg counties.
• Powderly, 2nd Wildlife District, Tuesday, March 27. Meeting to be held at the Merle Travis Music Center, 750 Cleaton Road. This district includes Allen, Butler, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, Logan, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Union, Warren and Webster counties.
• Campbellsville, 4th Wildlife District, Wednesday, March 28. Meeting to be held at the Banquet Hall in the Badgett Academic Support Center, Campbellsville University, 110 University Drive. This district includes Adair, Barren, Cumberland, Edmonson, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart, Larue, Marion, Metcalfe, Monroe, Nelson, Taylor and Washington counties.
• Morehead, 8th Wildlife District, Monday, April 2. Meeting to be held at the Perkins Center, KY 32, 1/2 mile south of I-64 on the right. This district includes Bath, Bourbon, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Rowan and Wolfe counties.

For more information about the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, visit online at fw.ky.gov.

About 160 students from two Las Vegas-area schools will learn about elk, hunting and conservation as part of a first-annual educational workshop to be held in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation convention and expo.

The inaugural Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience is set for Friday, Feb. 3.

“This event is being organized as a fun field-trip for students from Explore Knowledge Academy and the Innovations International school,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Students will arrive at the Las Vegas Convention Center at 9:00 a.m. and begin a lesson that’s seldom taught in public schools—how hunters have helped so many species go from vanishing to flourishing.”

Following a short lecture on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, students will tour the exposition hall, enjoy the booths and attractions and hear from biologists, hunters, outfitters, conservation groups and agencies about sustainable use of wildlife resources.

“We’ll treat the students to lunch and send them back to school, hopefully with a much better understanding of how true conservation works,” said Allen.

There is no cost for the students or schools.

Funding and support for the workshop are being provided through an endowment from Larry and Brenda Potterfield of MidwayUSA.

“We continue to be amazed at the vision, commitment and generosity of the Potterfields and MidwayUSA. We’re very grateful for their partnership,” said Allen.

The RMEF convention and expo, nicknamed “Elk Camp,” is an annual public-welcome conservation fundraiser hosted in part by International Sportsmen’s Expositions. The Feb. 2-4 event includes the expo hall and hundreds of booths, seminars and other attractions, plus the 2012 RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, all at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Full convention registrants can also enjoy banquets, auctions, entertainment and other festivities planned for the Riviera Hotel.

For more information, visit www.rmef.org.

Beaver Creek presents the ultimate challenge for skiers and snowboarders at the ninth annual Talons Challenge, slated for Saturday, March 3, 2012 and the first annual Talons Kids challenge on Sunday, March 4. Participants test their mettle and attempt to tackle all 13 of the resort’s steepest and bumpiest black diamond and double black diamond runs on the legendary Birds of Prey World Cup downhill course on Golden Eagle, Grouse Mountain, and on the flanks of Larkspur Bowl. In total, the event includes skiing or riding nearly 24,000 vertical feet in one day.

Those who successfully complete the Talons Challenge will receive a Talons Challenge Beanie, Commemorative Talons Challenge Pin and earn a spot on the electronic Talons Wall-of-Fame at Red Tail Camp. Participants should plan to stay around for the famous Talons Après Party and raffle at Red Tail Camp from 3:30-4pm on Saturday. Registration for the Challenge includes a Talons Challenge Lanyard and Credential, and a free Bratwurst and either a Bud Light or soft drink at the party. Talons Challenge is recommended for ages 13 and up. On Sunday, March 4, kids age 5-12 will have a challenge all their own with the new Talons Kids. Designed to give younger skiers and snowboarders their very own day to tackle the Talons Challenge, Talons Kids participants can ski and ride at their own pace, amongst others in the same age group and with similar experience levels, all in a relaxed, family-friendly environment. All participants will receive an official Talons Kids Beanie, Commemorative Talons Kids Pin, and the opportunity to win prizes at the Après Party and raffle at Red Tail Camp from 3:30-4pm on Sunday. Registration for Talons Kids includes a Talons Kids Lanyard and Credential, and a free Hotdog and a Pepsi soft drink at the party. The event is limited to children ages 5-12 and participants must be at a minimum a level four skier or snowboarder. .

There will also be two spots to pick up credentials for the Talons Kids on Sunday, March 4.

Registration for the Talons Challenge and Talons Kids is now open and information is online at www.talonschallenge.com. Participants must supply their own ski pass or lift ticket for this event. Lift ticket discounts are available if pre-purchased online at www.beavercreek.com at least seven days in advance.Advance online registration for the adult Talons Challenge is only $35 ($40 day-of entry, cash only); space is limited to the first 1,500 people who sign up. For Talons Kids, advance online registration is only $25 ($30 day-of entry, cash only); space is limited to the first 500 entries.

Lodging

Ski Free Stay Free at Beaver Creek. Buy three nights of lodging and three days of skiing, get the fourth night and day for free. Rates vary according to dates and timeframe. Offer is based on availability and is valid all season. Taxes, surcharge and gratuity not included. Book online at www.beavercreek.comor call 877.204.7883.

A portion of proceeds from the event will be donated to SOS Outreach. SOS Outreach provides 5,500 kids with an adventure based youth development curriculum. More information is available at www.sosoutreach.org. Come out for a great day on the mountain and help make a difference in the lives of youth.

With all the beauty and natural wonder of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, it is not surprising that the pretty town of Gatlinburg has become one of the most sought-after vacation spots for families looking to get away from it all.

On the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are lots of fun outdoor activities. When you take your kids hunting in Gatlinburg’s beautiful surroundings, you can teach them in some of America’s most pristine wilderness.  Book a comfortable cabin right in the woods and enjoy some family time on your own out in nature.

Teach the Kids about Hunting

Gatlinburg is ideal for family hunting trips. There is a variety of game in the Cherokee National Forest, including deer, grouse and wild turkey. Before heading out, it is important to note that certain areas of the forest are closed to hunting, and a valid Tennessee or North Carolina hunting license is required.

There is also hunting in the nearby Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests across the state line in North Carolina, where a North Carolina hunting license will be needed.

Kids under the age of 10 do not need a hunter safety certificate, but they must always be accompanied by an adult over age 21.

The Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide is a great resource for information about hunting in this area, including the dates of the various hunting seasons, bag limits and necessary permits and licenses. This guide can be found at any sporting goods store in Gatlinburg.

Other Things to Do in Gatlinburg

If the kids are done with hunting and want something else to do for the day, there are plenty of great attractions and other outdoor activities all around the Gatlinburg region. There’s excellent whitewater rafting for kids over the age of 12, and more than 600 miles of marked trails for hiking. Young anglers will find hundreds of places to fish in the region’s lakes and streams. Fun urban attractions right in Gatlinburg include bumper cars, go-karts, mini-golf and the famous Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, with an aquarium, a theater and a “fun zone.”

Where to Stay in Gatlinburg

With all the natural beauty surrounding you, the best place to stay is in one of the hundreds of excellent Gatlinburg cabin rentals in the woods. There are plenty of authentic log cabins available, many with modern amenities like satellite television and hot tubs. A vacation cottage rental in the woods will offer gorgeous views across the Smoky Mountains and plenty of room for the kids to run and play, not to mention the privacy and relaxation of being surrounded by nature.

Every kid deserves to spend time learning about the joys and wonders of the great outdoors, and the outdoors doesn’t get any greater than here in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Start planning today to take your kids hunting in Gatlinburg on a trip that will create wonderful memories to last a lifetime!

From clothing and firearms to wallets, flashlights and even furniture, hunter-styled camouflage has become an essential feature of the products hunters buy for use in the field and at home. Asked by HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com what percentage of their hunting equipment purchases were in camouflage patterns, less than six percent of respondents said none. That means a whopping 94 percent of the sportsmen surveyed purchased at least one camouflage item in 2011.

As such, it is no surprise that the second most deciding factor is brand loyalty itself, which was the second most selected factor on HunterSurvey.com (56 percent) and AnglerSurvey.com (57 percent). In breaking down the larger numbers, 18 percent of sportsmen said between 71 to 80 percent of the items they bought were in camouflage, 11 percent said between 81 and 90 percent were camo and 15 percent said at least half of their purchases were camo. Just over 7 percent reported everything they purchased for hunting had some camouflage on it.

This just goes to show how sporting consumers identify with the look and perceived benefits of camouflage products. Since its initial development in the 1980s, camouflage can be found on virtually every product a hunter wishes to own,” says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com.

While the survey did not question the motivations behind purchasing camouflage-covered equipment, likely reasons include the concealment benefits of camouflage products while in the field and the prevalence of hunting products on store shelves in camouflage. Many sportsmen also identify with and prefer the look of camouflage on items, which help them announce to others that they are proud sportsmen. “Wearing or displaying camo is a lifestyle choice, announcing to others they are a proud hunter or closely associate with the hunting lifestyle,” reports Rob Southwick.

Interestingly, professional endorsements by sporting and other celebrities were only chosen by 9 percent of sportsmen as having an impact in their purchase of a particular brand. To help continually improve, protect and advance the shooting sports and outdoor recreation, all sportsmen and sportswomen are encouraged to participate in the surveys at HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com. Each month, participants who complete the survey are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice.